Vintage Wine Tasting
A couple of weeks ago, Audrey and I were lucky enough to taste some vintage Bordeaux wines at Chuck's Fine Wines. As is always the case with old wines, there are no good vintages, just good bottles. Being presented with this astounding array of wines gave me a hint of the excitement that uncorking old wines can bring.
Château Cheval Blanc - 1949
Bordeaux > Saint-Emilion > la Dordogne > Northward
This was the oldest wine we tasted and it was delicious. The cork was secure and removed cleanly. Ullage had dropped the wine level to about 3-inches below the bottom of the cork when it was fully seated. I believe the owner decanted this wine and any flaws simply evaporated after several minutes in the glass. It was an education.
Château Mouton Rothschild - 1955
Bordeaux > Pauillac > Gironde estuary > West bank
(Château Montrose's southern neighbor.)
This was a large bottle in the one gallon size. Its huge cork had fallen into the bottle years ago, so it had been stored upright with a cling film seal. It was the most flawed wine, not surprisingly. Still, an interesting experience.
Château Montrose - 1978
Bordeaux > St. Estephe > Gironde estuary > West Bank
(Château Mouton Rothschild's northern neighbor.)
This was a very good bottle of wine with just a little mustiness that it couldn't shake, if memory serves.
Le Dôme - 2019
Bordeaux > Saint-Emilion > la Dordogne > Northward
A relative baby in the group, this was a good bottle of wine. After playing the old wine game with the big boys, it almost made sense to buy a case or two, cellar them, and open a bottle every year for a decade or two.
Silver Oak - 1986
California > Napa > Alexander Valley
For me, and the group, I think, this was the crowd-pleaser of the day. A flawless balanced mouthful. Some of the tasters were more reserved about the Silver Oak than I was and that might have been a simple matter of taste or they might have been Francophiles.
Lynn's Floral Cupcakes
We were also treated to some cupcakes made by a local baker. They were very good cupcakes and contrary to the visual impact of the beautiful decorations, they were not the icing-bombs that seem to be so trendy with American adults and children. There was a thoughtful balance of cake and buttercream frosting which made them a good dessert. The baker's name is Lynn's Floral Cupcakes with a gmail address of the same name, without the apostrophe of course.
